Ben Webster Ben Webster & Associates 180g LP

If ever there was an LP to study the perfect art of swing tenor sax playing,
then this must be it! In the '60s, fans of a rich, full sound coupled with a
flowing style must have been thrilled when this LP by Ben Webster and his
associates appeared on the market. Leonard Feather called the trio "heavy
weights" and their massive sound certainly matches their corpulence. While it is
difficult to single out just one of the musicians, it is easy to distinguish
them: Ben (called "The Brute") plays with a raspy, vibrating sound; Coleman
(known as "The Bear") is a master of flowing swing; and Budd has an earthy,
resonant bluesy sound. The five numbers reflect the jam-like spontaneity of the
1959 session; an Ellington classic by the three in a masterful, inspirational
new interpretation; three pieces which are intrinsically and hoc improvisations;
and a classical ballad in which Ben Webster breathes warmth and sentiment into
his instrument.